NEW YORK – The Archdiocese of New York notified the Federation of Catholic Teachers that it will close six schools at the end of the school year; four are in the Bronx, one is in Manhattan and one is in Liberty.
The Liberty school is Saint Peter’s Regional at 121 Lincoln Place in Liberty.
Julia Pignataro, teachers’ union president, said the Archdiocese had promised to provide ample warning of additional school closings, but they were told of the latest closings on Monday. Those are in addition to the 55 schools closed since 2011.
“Hundreds of students and 76 full-time and part-time teachers will find themselves without a school,” Pignataro said.
She said the uncertainty of the closings in a matter of months could have been avoided “if the Archdiocese had followed its own promised plan of action.” In 2010, she said the Archdiocese charted a course known as “Pathways to Excellence,” to ensure the quality and longevity of the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
“The closings or consolidations of schools, according to ‘Pathways,’ would enhance the strength of all remaining schools in the system. Catholic school parents and teachers were promised that, ultimately, increased funds would be available for tuition assistance. Dr. Timothy McNiff, school superintendent of the Archdiocese, vowed to plow money back into the system,” Pignataro said.
